Personal ramblings of Elizabeth Andrews Fae artist and author of 'Faeries and Folklore of the British Isles,' 'Faerie Flora'and the 'The Lavender Witch' all available from
www.magic-myth-legend.co.uk and Amazon

Thursday, 23 October 2014

Faerie Trees

Almost all kinds of trees found in the Celtic countries have been thought to have

special powers or to serve as the abode of the faeries.

Oak

According to the Celts the oak was the Father of the Trees and worshiped in

vast groves which formed their holy shrines. These places gave protection and power to their magic and spells. They revered the oak

above all other trees because of the powerful magic that the tree contained and it

was used in many of their celebrations and rituals. The name Druid means

‘Knowing the Oak’.The oak represented doorways to other realms, it was believed to provide protection and shelter when passing through to other realms.On Angelsey in Wales stand the ancient sacred Holy Groves of the Druids, this grove of oaks was destroyed in AD 60 on the orders of the Roman General Gaius Suetonius Paulinus who was determined to break the power of the Druids. The remnants of the sacred oaks can still be seen there.The Romans vehemently opposed Celtic druids, whom they did not see pious priests, but as ferocious freedom fighters. The Druids continuously tried to rally the population of Britain to take up arms against the Romans and Anglesey became the centre of Celtic rebellion in the country.Oak Apples: The galls on oak trees are caused by the larvae of a certain type

of wasp and the galls were used to find out if a child had been bewitched.

Three of the galls would have been plucked from the oak and thrown into a

bucket of water. The bucket would then have been placed underneath the child’s

cradle. If the galls float then the child is safe but if they sink it means the child

is bewitched. All of this must be done in silence otherwise it will not work.

Hazel

The Well of Wisdom, otherwise known as Connla’s Well in Tipperary Ireland,

stands at the centre of the Celtic Otherworld. From here flows the water which

feeds all other sacred wells and springs throughout the rest of the world.

Overhanging this well grows a sacred hazel tree which produces the nine nuts

of poetic art and wisdom, these nuts fall into the water and are eaten by

Fintan the salmon of knowledge.

When the nuts fall into the water bubbles of inspiration rise to the surface

which with the husks then float down the five streams that flow from this well

spreading the wisdom to the rest of the world.

The hazel tree has been considered a magical tree for many hundreds of years

and to the Celts it was known as the Sacred Tree of Knowledge and it’s nuts

treasured, believing them to be the food of the Gods.

It was not just the nuts that they valued but also the wood itself from which they

made wands, using them in magical ceremonies and for divination.

The power of the wand has been recognised by Pagans and Christians alike, for

example it was with a hazel wand that St Patrick drove the snakes out of Ireland.

Along with the wands, which are still used by the modern day Druid, hazel

dowsing rods are commonly used to find underground springs,

although in Cornwall they are also used to locate mineral deposits.

Great care has to be taken to cut the wands or dowsing rods at the the correct time.

Midsummer’s Eve is the best time as the hazel tree is at its most powerful then.

The smaller more flexible branches of the tree are woven into hats, placed upon

the head they can then be used to make wishes.

Sailors also wore these hats as protection against storms.

This belief in the power of the hazel was and is still wide spread throughout

Britain; in the more remote parts of the country it is still a custom for brides to

be presented with bags of nuts upon leaving the church to encourage

fertility in their marriage.

Yew

This is an ancient sacred tree which can live for anything up to 3000 years,

its evergreen leaves a symbol of mourning and resurrection. Many yew trees

can be found planted in graveyards, and small sprigs of yew were often placed

in the grave to protect the spirit.

One old tale that is told about the yew is that the tree became dissatisfied with

its dark green needles envying the other trees in the forest their beautiful

coloured leaves. It grumbled to the faeries asking them to change its appearance,

so to keep the yew happy they changed its leaves into gold. The golden leaves

glittered in the sun but this attracted the thieves and they stripped the tree bare.

The faeries then gave the tree delicate leaves of crystal but a storm came and

the rain smashed the delicate leaves leaving the tree naked.

The tree was then clothed in bright green and gold leaves that fluttered in the wind

but this attracted all the wild animals of the woods, and the tree was again stripped

bare of its leaves. The yew tree stood there in the wood and moaned for its own

evergreen leaves to be returned so the faeries once again did their magic and

returned the yew tree to its original form,but because the tree still envied the

other trees their colourful leaves the faeries gave it bright red berries to wear

every year, and made the berries along with the leaves poisonous to discourage

the beasts of the forest.

Elder

The elder, having clusters of white flowers and red or blackish berry like fruit, has

many associations with the faerie world. For instance on the Isle of Man it is

commonly thought of as a faerie tree while in Ireland it is believed that the tree is

haunted by faeries and demons.

If you stand beneath an Elder tree on Midsummer’s Eve you will see the King of the

Faeries and his entourage but be careful you do not get swept away to Faerieland.

Elder wood is greatly prized by the faeries so do not use it for a cradle or the

baby will be pinched black and blue.

The Elder Mother guards the tree and although she is usually kind she can

become dangerous if her trees are harmed so you must always ask

permission before cutting an Elder tree.

”Ourd gal, give me some of thy wood

An oi will give some of moine

When oi grows inter a tree”

Apple

The magical properties of the Apple tree were recognised by the Celts who

used them in their Samhain festivals.

Great care was taken of the trees by the Celts, wassailing them at the turn of

every season to ensure good crops, for they believed that the apple was the the fruit

of the Gods. Blessings and prayers were said in the orchards and hot spiced cider

drunk in toast to the trees.

Anything left over in the wassailing bowl would be poured over the roots of the

trees as a tribute to the spirit of the trees.

“Old Apple Tree we wassail thee, and happily thou wilt bear,

For the Lord knows where we shall be ,

Till apples another year....”

Two customs that are left over from the Samhain festival and are still in

practice today are the dunking for apples in a barrel and peeling an apple in

front of a mirror to see an image of your future partner.

May Eve is the traditional time to plant new trees, place a piece of coal beneath

the roots, then water with cider.

The Apple Tree Man is the guardian of orchards in Somerset, he is to be found in

the oldest tree. Also keeping him company is the faerie horse, the Colt Pixy.

The last apples of the harvest must be left for the pixies. The Somerset name for taking these are Pisking, Col-pixying, Griggling, Pixyhunting and Pixywarding.

Ash

The ash tree was regarded with awe in Celtic countries, especially Ireland; where

at times in the past, even though wood was scarce, people refused to cut the ash for

fear of having their own houses consumed with flames.

The ash is sometimes used in the Beltaine rites, together with the oak and thorn,

the ash is part of a magical trilogy in faerie lore.

Ash seed pods can be used in divination and the wood has the power to ward of faeries.

In Scotland children were given the astringent sap of the tree as both medicine and

as protection against witch craft.

Rowan

This wood can be used as a protection against faerie charms and dairy maids used it as a charm to stop butter from spoiling when being churned. Hang branches around the house and outbuildings to bring good luck.

Every croft in Scotland would have its own rowan tree planted outside the front

door for protection. Red ribbons would be tied to the branches to keep witches from the door. It is one of the most sacred trees in Scottish folk traditions and does not allow the use of the timber, bark, leaves or flowers except for sacred purposes.

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About Me

Hi I am a artist and author Elizabeth Andrews, and I love all things Faerie. My work can be found at www.magic-myth-legend.co.uk where if you wish you can purchase cards and prints of all things magical from Faerie to Mermaids and even Dragons!
This interest has become an obsession over the last ten year resulting in a fully illustrated book detailing Faerie and Folklore around the British Isles. I hope that if you, like me, are a 'Faerie nut' that you will enjoy this blog as I comment on any faerie activity around the British Isles. However I do find myself adding more and more quirky items on folkLore so I apologise but I find them so fascinating and funny!!